Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes often creeps up gradually. The classic signs reflect the body's attempt to flush excess glucose and compensate for cellular energy loss:

• Increased thirst — dogs or cats drinking noticeably more than usual
• Increased urination, including accidents in the house or outside the litter box
• Weight loss despite a normal or increased appetite
• Cloudy eyes in dogs (diabetic cataracts can develop within weeks of diagnosis)
• Weakness or a plantigrade stance in cats (walking on the hocks rather than the paws, from diabetic neuropathy)
• Lethargy, reduced activity level
• Recurrent skin or urinary infections
• A sweet or fruity odor to the breath in advanced cases (a sign of ketoacidosis)

If your pet is vomiting, refusing food, or seems weak and dull along with any of the above signs, call us right away — diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency.

Diabetes develops when the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are damaged or overwhelmed, or when tissues become resistant to insulin's effect. Common contributing factors include:

• Obesity — the single most modifiable risk factor in cats; excess fat promotes insulin resistance
• Chronic pancreatitis, which destroys insulin-producing cells over time
• Long-term or repeated steroid (corticosteroid) use, which raises blood glucose
• Other endocrine diseases — hyperthyroidism in cats, Cushing's disease in dogs — that interfere with insulin signaling
• Breed predisposition: Burmese cats and certain dog breeds (Samoyeds, Keeshonds, Pugs, Miniature Poodles) are at higher risk
• Age and sex: middle-aged to older pets; intact female dogs are at higher risk due to progesterone's anti-insulin effects

A diagnosis of diabetes requires more than one high glucose reading, because stress alone can spike blood sugar — especially in cats. Our work-up typically includes:

• Fasting blood glucose measurement (persistently elevated confirms diabetes)
• Urinalysis — glucose in the urine, along with checking for urinary infection
• Fructosamine or HbA1c testing — reflects average blood sugar over the past several weeks, not just the moment of the blood draw
• Complete blood panel and thyroid testing to rule out concurrent diseases that worsen glucose control

Our in-house laboratory means results are available the same day, so we can start a treatment plan at the first visit rather than waiting days for an outside lab.

Diabetes management is a partnership between our team and the owner at home. Treatment typically involves:

• Insulin therapy — most diabetic dogs and cats need twice-daily injections; needles are small and most pets tolerate them calmly after a few days of practice
• Dietary change — high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets dramatically improve glucose control in cats and may allow some cats to go into remission; fiber-rich diets help stabilize blood sugar in dogs
• Weight loss — for overweight cats especially, reducing body weight can restore insulin sensitivity and sometimes eliminate the need for injections
• Monitoring at home — a glucose meter or continuous glucose monitor (CGM) designed for pets lets owners track trends between veterinary visits
• Managing concurrent disease — treating hyperthyroidism, Cushing's disease, or urinary infections is essential because these conditions sabotage glucose control

Some newly diagnosed cats achieve diabetic remission with aggressive early treatment — meaning they no longer need insulin. Dogs rarely remit but can be very well controlled. Regular recheck visits (initially every 1–2 weeks, then every 3–4 months once stable) let us fine-tune the dose safely.

Any pet drinking excessively, losing weight unexpectedly, or urinating more than usual deserves a same-week appointment — catching diabetes early gives the best chance of remission in cats and avoids complications in dogs. If your diabetic pet is vomiting, won't eat, seems weak, or has a fruity breath odor, treat it as an emergency. Our team in Calabasas can run bloodwork and start a personalized management plan the same day. Book an appointment or call us to get started.